College Attended: Kansas State University
Degree: Master of Landscape Architecture
Year Graduated from College: 2010
Internships: Ochner Hare and Hare
Hometown Area: Garnett, KS
Awards / Accomplishments:
- Tau Sigma Delta National Honor Society Member, KSU
- Sigma Lambda Alpha Honor Society, KSU
- Sigma Lambda Alpha Honor Society, KSU
- L.R. Quinlan Award, KSU
- Honor Award for Commercial, Retail, or Mixed Use Development; Awarded by Nevada Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects
- Capstone Award; Awarded by The Kansas City Business Bureau
- Designed Citadel/ KCMO 63rd St. Entrance Tower
Family / Interests / Hobbies: I share my free time with my husband, son, and 2 dogs at home or with our extended family most weekends. I also enjoy working out, traveling throughout the world, dreaming up new projects for my handy husband to take on, and shopping of every sort!
My favorite thing about Landscaping / Designing / Outdoors: I love working with the clients. We get to create spaces for their families to make memories. Each client is different; you get to know each one very well to learn their character, style, and vision. It keeps things interesting and fun!
My Inspiration: I originally went to K-State to pursue architecture, but the first year is exposure to all of the architecture disciplines. I found architecture to be too defined, constraining, and technical. I was more challenged and intrigued by how creatively limitless the landscape is. I didn’t get caught up in all of the technical details of structure, but could sculpt the land into just about anything. I love that design is objective and there is a challenge as well to appeal to eyes other than yours. It is physical art.
Now my career in design build happened because of the economy, but it has been one of the best things to happen to me. I get to work with the crew and learn from my designs. Every designer should get their hands dirty!
Who taught me my most valuable lesson and what it was?
Valuable lesson in life: Have a strong work ethic, passion, and drive for whatever your profession and you’ll never work a day in your life; My father.
Valuable construction lesson: Always take a section! Chip Winslow, KSU.
Valuable design lesson: My theory in design is that it is about the people. It isn’t the land, the water, the benches you provide. It is about how the people perceive and appreciate the spaces we create. In my opinion, the best places in the world are those that create an experience for people. They aren’t enjoyed because they have seating for x amount of people or there is xeriscaping demonstration. They go and enjoy it because it is an experience; it envokes emotion; it tells a story. I learned this theory from several people, William H. Whyte and the designers at OHH.
My ideal outdoor space: Entertainment! I love hosting events and making memories. It would also have to have all my unique little touches so that no one else could have what I created. I like having a space that people remember because it is like no other place! Lots of color and unique plants; a collection of unique architectural pieces.
What inspires me: Passionate people. I love when people get wrapped up in excited about an idea and the ideas explode even further. When someone is excited about a project, you can’t help but be every bit as excited!
My favorite landscape style: I love clean modern architectural forms softened by natural plant material. The juxtaposition of the hard against soft is so intriguing and current. It’s a risk, but when it is pulled of correctly, it’s absolutely phenomenal. Sort of a Joanna Gaines approach to landscape…
